Shuttle check for loom



Feb. 25, 1989 c. L. ODONNELL 3,429,345

SHUTTLE CHECK FOR LOOM Filed March 27, 1967 Sheet INV ENT OR C bar/es L. O'Donrvefl Feb. 25, 1969 c, QDONNELL 3,429,345

SHUTTLE CHECK FOR LOOM Filed March 27, 1967 Sheet 2 of INVENT OR Char/es L. O'Oannel/ United States Patent Office 3,429,345 Patented Feb. 25, 1969 3,429,345 SHUTTLE CHECK FOR LOOM Charles L. ODonnell, Paterson, N.J., assignor of fifty percent to Carroll Steinhauser, Wayne, NJ.

Filed Mar. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 625,998 U.S. Cl. 139-186 1 Claim Int. Cl. D03d 49/54, 49/56 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The disclosure describes a floating binder for a shuttle in a shuttle box. Springs mounted on walls of the box bear against the binder to prevent vibration, slippage and displacement of a shuttle while in the shuttle box, and to exert a braking effect on a shuttle entering the box.

The invention concerns an improved shuttle check assembly including a spring controlled floating binder in a shuttle box.

According to the invention there is provided a binder which is movable laterally and longitudinally in a shuttle box so as not to interfer with longitudinal movement of a shuttle into and out of the box. When the shuttle is effectively lodged in the shuttle box, laterally placed spring fingers come into play to hold the binder pressed against the shuttle. By this arrangement the shuttle cannot become displaced while other shuttles in adjacent boxes are thrown into and out of their boxes.

It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a binder for a shuttle with lateral springs for loading the binder when it is engaged with a shuttle in a shuttle box.

A further object is to provide a floating binder of improved construction.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIGURE 1 is a horizontal sectional view through a gang of shuttle boxes at one end of a lay of a loom, with a shuttle shown entering one shuttle box, parts of the outer boxes being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section view similar to part of FIG. 1 showing the shuttle fully checked in the shuttle box.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views taken on lines 33 of FIG. 1 and 44 of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 14, there is shown the left end lay of a loom in which there is a plurality of shuttle boxes 11, 12, 13. A similar gang of shuttle boxes are provided at the right end lay (not shown) of the loom. Since all the shuttle boxes are identical, the description will be limited to shuttle box 12. This box has walls defining a chamber C to receive a shuttle. The box has a floor 14 formed with a longitudinal slot 16. In th left end of the slot moves picker stick 18 on which is mounted padded picker 20. Each shuttle 22 carries a rotatable spool 21 of yarn 23. The box may have a cover 17. To the extent described the shuttle box is conventional. One side wall 24 of the shuttle box can be lined with a resilient facing 25 of a plastic such as polyfluorethylene or a silicone. This facing serves as a guide for the shuttle entering or leaving the box.

A floating binder 26 is provided in each shuttle box. This binder is a generally rectangular elongated bar. It is made of a smooth, tough, dimensionally stable plastic such as nylon, a polyester, a melamine, or the like. It has a flat face 28 which extends into the path of the shuttle entering box 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The leading end 28' of face 28 is recessed to serve as a guide for the tapered end 29 of the shuttle which enters entrance E of the shuttle box. Mounted on outer end block 30 in the box is a U-shaped leaf spring 32 held by a screw 33. The outer flat end 34 of the binder contacts the free upwardly extending arm of spring 32. At the other end of the box on abutment 36 is another U-shaped leaf spring 38 held by screw 37. This spring contacts the inner end 39 of the binder. The binder is provided with two elongated slots 40 and 42. Two spring pins 44 held in a hole 45 in floor 14 extend upwardly into these slots and normally contact the inner sides 43 of the slots. Spring pins 44 bias the binder into the path of shuttle 22 as shown in FIG. 1. The binder can move slightly longitudinally being limited at both ends by the springs 32, 38. The binder can also move laterally out of the path of the entering shuttle, and will be limited in such movement to the distance between outer sides 41 of slots 40, 42 and the spring pins 44.

A short fine leaf spring 46 is secured by screw 48 near the entrance to the side wall 49 of the shuttle box. The free end 46' of this spring extends toward the left or outer end of the shuttle box and is normally spaced slightly from the fiat outer side wall 50 of the binder when the shuttle is out of the box as clearly shown in FIG. 4. Another longer, wider and more massive leaf spring 52 is secured by screws 54 near the left end of wall 49. The spring 52 extends inwardly opposite to spring 46. The free end 52 of spring 52 is normally spaced from the side wall 50 of the binder when the shuttle is out of the box. The picker 20 is normally located at or near abutments 53 defined between the wider and narrower parts of slot 16, when the shuttle is out of the box.

The shuttle is shown in FIG. 1 entering the shuttle box 12. As the leading tapered end of the shuttle contacts the recessed end of the binder the binder will move laterally outward tensioning spring pins 44. The binder then has a braking effect on the shuttle while not stopping it completely. As the binder continues to move laterally, it also moves slightly longitudinally against spring 32. This has a shock absorbing effect and brakes the shuttle further. Lateral movement of the binder brings it against spring 46 which yields but causes increased pressure on the shuttle to brake it further. As the shuttle moves along, the outer or left end of the binder contacts spring 52 which is then pressed outwardly to exert full pressure against the binder. The driving force of the shuttle is now almost spent. However, it now contacts the picker 20 carried by picker stick 18. The picker stick and picker yield and move to the left of the position shown in FIG. 2. Now the shuttle is stopped. It is effectively locked in the shuttle box by cooperative pressure exerted by springs 46 and 52 and spring pins 44. All the shuttles in boxes 11 and 13 of FIG. 1 are in the same locked condition as shuttle in box 12 shown in FIG. 2.

The picker stick 18 is provided with a conventional driving mechanism shown only partially in FIG. 1. When the picker stick is thrown to the right from its left position shown in FIG. 2, the shuttle will be positively pushed out of the shuttle box and thrown to the right end lay of the loom. Then springs 46, 52 and 44 will all relax. As they do so they shift the binder laterally inward. The binder will move inwardly until spring pins 44 stand upright, when springs 46 and 52 will lose contact with the binder. Springs 32 and 38 will equalize in tension and reposition the binder longitudinally so that spring pins 44 are located at the centers of slot walls 43 as shown in FIG. 1. The picker 20 will be stopped at abutments 53. Now the shuttle box is ready to receive the shuttle on its return throw as shown in FIG. 1.

By the arrangement described, the shuttle cannot rebound once it enters the shuttle box and is gripped by the binder. Furthermore, it cannot become loose and slip longitudinally out of place once it is locked in the shuttle box. This desirable situation prevents development of mis- Weaves, otherwise caused by vibration or longitudinal slippage of a shuttle when a different shuttle is thrown from its shuttle box or is received in a shuttle box. The invention is adapted to installation in other types of shuttle boxes than those illustrated and described.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made with in the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

1. A shuttle check assembly for a shuttle in a shuttle box having walls defining a chamber for receiving the shuttle and an opening at one end defining an entrance for the shuttle, said assembly comprising a longitudinally and laterally fioatable binder in the form of an elongated generally rectangular bar disposed longitudinally in the shuttle box and having one side normally disposed in the path of movement of the shuttle when entering the shuttle box, and a leaf spring mounted on one side wall of the shuttle box near the entrance to the shuttle box and normally slightly spaced from the other side of the binder for exerting pressure on the binder when the binder is laterally deflected upon initial entry of the shuttle into the shuttle box, a second leaf spring longer and more massive than the first named leaf spring, said second leaf spring being mounted on said one side wall beyond the first spring and spaced further from said entrance of the shuttle box, said second spring being normally spaced from the binder when the shuttle is out of the shuttle box and exerting pressure on the binder when the binder is laterally deflected by entry of the shuttle into the shuttle box, means permitting longitudinal and lateral movements of the binder but limiting longitudinal and lateral movements of the binder when the shuttle enters and leaves the shuttle box, said latter means comprising a pair of spring pins normally disposed parallel to the sides of the binder, said binder having wide longitudinally extending slots receiving said pins being disposed to restore the binder to a position where said one side of the binder extends into the path of movement of the shuttle when the shuttle moves in the shuttle'box, and shock absorbing spring members supported by walls of the box, contacting said binder at opposite ends thereof and permitting longitudinal and lateral movements of the binder while limiting longitudinal movements of the binder when the shuttle moves in the shuttle box.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 596,315 12/1897 Bannister 139l85 2,341,843 2/1944 Hamilton 139185 2,556,037 6/1951 Kennedy 139185 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,389,334- 1/1965 France.

552,663 6/1932 Germany.

9,133 1894 Great Britain. 13,343 1894 Great Britain. 721,546 l/ 1955 Great Britain. 740,578 11/1955' Great Britain. 949,349 2/ 1964 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

JAMES KEE CHI, Assistant Examiner. 

